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COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT of MORPHOMETRIC PARAMETERS of SOME COMMON LIZARDS Ogundimu O.A. Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism, Fo

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COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT of MORPHOMETRIC PARAMETERS of SOME COMMON LIZARDS Ogundimu O.A. Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism, Fo Ogundimu, 2019 Journal of Research in Forestry, Wildlife & Environment Vol. 11(3) September, 2019 http://www.ajol.info/index.php/jrfwe jfewr ©2019 - jfewr Publications E-mail:[email protected] This work is licensed under a 35 ISBN: 2141 – 1778 Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License Ogundimu, 2019 COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF MORPHOMETRIC PARAMETERS OF SOME COMMON LIZARDS Ogundimu O.A. Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Forest Hill, Jericho, P.M.B. 5054, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Correspondent’s email: [email protected] ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to examine the differences in the major external features and body weight of some common lizards from two locations. Ten samples each of the male and female rainbow lizard (Agama agama africana) and wall gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) were purchased from Itoku market in Abeokuta, Ogun state as well as Bode market in Ibadan, Oyo state. Morphometric parameters such as the forelimb length, hindlimb length, tail length, head length, body length and total length were measured. It was observed that the body lengths of both male and female Agama lizards showed significant difference at (P< 0.05) in terms of location- the male and female Agama lizards in Abeokuta was longer in body length than those from Ibadan. In wall geckos, it was observed that the length of the forelimb was significantly different at (P< 0.05) while the hindlimb length, head length and body length showed significant difference at (P< 0.01) in terms of location. However, there was no significant difference in the body weights of the male Agama, female Agama and wall gecko from the different locations at both (P< 0.01) and (P< 0.05) significant levels although mean values showed that the weights of the male and female Agama lizards in Abeokuta was more than that of Ibadan while the mean values of the wall gecko from both locations was the same. Keywords: Morphometrics, Lizards, Comparative assessment, Ibadan, Abeokuta. INTRODUCTION salamanders are commonly called “spring lizards” Lizard, any of a group of scaly reptiles related to or “wood lizards”. Salamanders and lizards look snakes. Lizards are the most abundant of all reptiles much alike but they are not related although both and are found throughout the world in tropical and are cold-blooded animals. These animals cannot temperate areas. There are about 3000 species of keep their bodies much warmer or cooler than their living lizards, including such well known types as surroundings. But lizards have dry, scaly skin and geckos, chameleons, Gila monsters, iguanas and clawed toes. Salamanders are amphibians related to skinks. Lizards far exceed snakes – the next most frogs, and have moist skin and no scales or claws. numerous reptiles – in number of individual. Except Lizards love to stay in the sun but salamanders under special circumstances, snakes are something usually avoid sunlight (The World Book of a rarity even when one looks at them; lizards, on Encyclopedia, 2003). the other hand, seem to be everywhere in many of the warmer parts of the world (Coborn, 1987). Like The skin of many large lizards, such as iguanas, snakes, some lizards are legless. Others resemble chuckwallas and monitors is used for leather goods snakes but have legs. Many large lizards look much such as handbags, wallets and shoes. Lizards are like crocodiles. also used for food, especially among impoverished people, and in some agricultural areas they serve an Lizards vary in size, shape and colour. They have important role in insect control. Some lizards are many different ways of moving about and also kept as pets (Encyclopedia Americana, 2001). defending themselves. In parts of the United States, Several features reveal the close relationship many people mistake lizards for salamander. The between lizards and snakes, the most important of JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN FORESTRY, WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENT, VOLUME 11, NO. 3 SEPTEMBER, 2019 Ogundimu, 2019 36 which is the possession of two copulatory organs are the Komodo monitors, about 9 or 10feet (2.7- called hemipenes, in the males. Many male 3.0m) long. Most are, however, less than 15inches vertebrates have no copulatory organs; some have (37cm) long. In several lizard families, especially one but only lizards and snakes have two. Lizards the advanced ones, there are no external differences and snakes are also alike and distinguishable from between the sexes. In other types of lizard however, all other reptiles, except the tuatara in having a there are some discernible differences between the transverse anal opening. No single feature sexes. Males of certain species for example have a distinguishes lizards from snakes – not even legs, somewhat enlarged head correlated with enlarged since some lizards lack limbs of any kind. jaw muscles, and some have highly developed preanal pores. In most iguanas, males can be However, unlike snakes, lizards usually have the distinguished by their somewhat enlarged scales just following characteristics: a pectoral or shoulder behind the anus; in anoles, by their well-developed girdle, that is, a skeletal support for attachment of dewlap; and in some geckos, by postanal spurs and front limbs; movable eyelids; an external ear sacs. In some lizards, certain, though often minor, opening; an eardrum, and a different skull structure differences in colour pattern may occur, with one with more skull bones (Encyclopedia Americana, sex showing a heightening of colour, at least during 2001). Lizards are also often confused with the breeding season (Encyclopedia Americana, salamanders, amphibians that they sometimes 2001). superficially resemble. Salamanders however, have The body of a lizard is covered with an epidermal elongate or round anal opening, smooth rather than layer of more or less horny keratin in the form of scaly skin, and no more than four fingers on the relatively thick keratinized, flexible skin. The scales front limb, rather than the lizards usual five. Lizards vary greatly in shape and roughness: primitive occur on most land masses insular as well as lizards generally have small scales, and more continental, in temperate and tropical regions. In advanced lizards have larger plates and larger scales general, they increase in diversity as well as in which are sometimes accompanied by bony plates abundance towards the tropics (Encyclopedia (osteoderms), shaped much like the epidermal Americana, 2001). elements but lying in the dermis under them. A very few small surfaces of the lizard body lack epidermal Lizards lack the in-built body temperature control, scales. For example, the so-called “mite pockets” - many other animals have. So, most lizards live in where the neck and limbs join the body - are partly places where the ground never freezes. Those that bare-skinned. Some lizards have fused transparent live in areas with cold winters must hibernate. eyelids similar to contact lenses (Smith, 1946). Lizards thrive in the tropics and warm parts of the Like other reptiles, lizards have few integumentary temperate zones. They are the most common reptile or skin glands. Paired scent glands are present at the found in the desert and other dry regions. When the base of the tail. In addition, many species have desert becomes too hot for comfort, lizards lie in the “femoral” or “preanal” pores occurring in a row or shade or under the sand to escape the sun’s ray patches in front of the anus. These pores or glands (Encyclopedia Americana, 2001). Lizards are are well developed only in males, being vestigial or extremely varied in form. There are long, slender absent in females. In mature males during the snake-like racers; earthworm-like burrowers; breeding season, a horny core grows out from each stumpy-tailed short-bodied rock dwellers; long- pore. This core produces a comb-like structure that tailed varieties capable of running swiftly on sand, the male rubs against the female, presumably to earth and the surface of water; lumbering monsters stimulate her sexually (Smith, 1946). living on land or in trees; spiny pancake-shape species; slick-skinned agile tree climbers and The limbs of lizards, especially the fingers and toes, burrowers and still other too varied and numerous to show a wide variety of environmental adaptations. describe. Some climbing species, for example, have broad The smallest lizards are certain geckos pads on the feet to help them adhere to smooth (Sphaerodactylus) that are about ¾ inch (1.9cm) surfaces. Most species have claws, but the claws long- the smallest of all reptiles. The largest lizards may be long or short, slender or stout, depending on JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN FORESTRY, WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENT, VOLUME 11, NO. 3 SEPTEMBER, 2019 Ogundimu, 2019 37 the species’ environment and way of life (Smith, The tail serves yet another unusual function. Thingy 1946). Desert dwelling species generally have long lizards have been known to break off the tail limbs and fingers along the toes to aid them in deliberately and eat it or to return to the site where getting a purchase on shifting sands; some water- the tail was lost and eat any remaining parts dwelling types have the same adaptations. Slow- (Coborn, 1987). Found in most sub-Saharan Africa moving land types, on the other hand, tend to have (Harris, 1964). Agama agama is often referred to as short fingers and toes and heavy limbs and some the African red-headed agama or common agama in borrowing types have only greatly reduced limbs or the United States pet trade and popular literature none at all (Smith, 1946). The tail is as useful to the (Frank and Ramus, 1995; Bartlett, 1999), and in lizard as one of its limbs. In length, it ranges from a specific literature as the African rainbow lizard scarcely visible nubbin to a structure several times (Romer, 1953; Daniel, 1960; Chapman, 1964; the length of the body.
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